The plan says that the Blanco Gardens neighborhood still needs $8 million to improve drainage. (KXAN Photo)

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – Many are still making repairs after last year’s devastating floods in Central Texas. For those in San Marcos, they will soon start to see some major improvements around town that will help prevent flooding in the future.

On Thursday, a $25.08 million federal disaster recovery grant was finally approved by the government to make those changes.

The city has created a plan that will allocate the funds into four categories. In an almost 300 page plan, the city of San Marcos lays out where all of the money could go. Exactly half of it, $12,540,000, will be put towards infrastructure. Housing will receive $7,524,000, planning will receive $3,762,000 and administration will receive $1,254,000.

According to the grant agreement, the funds must be spent in the next six years.

On the East side of San Marcos, some neighbors are doing the final touches to their home.

“It’s been kind of a spartan existence at times,” said Blanco Gardens Neighborhood resident Randy Coleman.

Coleman had severe damage from the last two major floods. Now, as he puts the last coat of paint on his home, he hopes the federal grant money will prevent flood damage in the future.

“This neighborhood doesn’t need to be abandoned and if they improve the infrastructure here with money spent, I think that’s very important,” said Coleman.

According to the city, the Blanco Gardens neighborhood needs just over $8 million to install storm sewers and improve drainage channels. Just how much the neighborhood will receive is still unknown, but neighbors say regardless of the amount it will be good change.

“I think that an overall approach for the entire area will prevent or at least lesson subsequent flooding which is bound to happen,” said Blanco Gardens Neighborhood resident Douglass Beckett.

Besides city wide drainage issues, low water crossings and the wastewater treatment plant could see improvements.

“Things have already been done to improve the drainage here and I’m hopeful that, that will reduce some of the risk and that what is done further will to continue to improve our chances here in the neighborhood from having continual flooding,” said Coleman.

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